College Placement Test

All degree seeking students are required to demonstrate college-level proficiency in English and mathematics. Therefore, the college tests incoming freshmen who do not have testing exemptions in reading, writing, and mathematics skills. The results of these tests have no effect on admission to Ocean County College. Their purpose is to help the college place students in courses appropriate to their academic backgrounds and needs. The College Placement Test should be taken as soon as possible after admissions applications are submitted to avoid delays in scheduling courses. Also, early testing may enable students needing developmental courses to complete them during summer sessions. Effective January 2020, students with the following test scores or grade point averages from their high school transcripts will be exempt from the corresponding segments of the Placement Test:

College Placement Test

Test	English	Mathematics
High School	GPA ≥ 3.0 or numeric average of 80% or higher	High School GPA ≥ 3.0 or numeric average of 80% or higher that includes Algebra II and one Algebra intensive course (Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, or Calculus)
NEW PSAT (as of Fall 2015)*	PSAT Reading Test ≥ 29	Mathematics ≥ 27.5
OLD PSAT (through Spring 2015)*	PSAT Reading Test ≥ 54	Mathematics ≥ 53
NEW SAT (as of March 2016)*	Evidence-Based Reading & Writing ≥ 450	Mathematics ≥ 500
OLD SAT (through Feb. 2016)*	Critical Reading ≥ 540	Mathematics ≥ 530
NJSLA (as of Spring 2019) **	Grade 11 English Language Arts & Literacy ≥ 4	Grade 11 Algebra II ≥ 4
ACT * ***	English/Writing with Essay ≥ 18 and Reading ≥ 22	Mathematics ≥ 22
High School Equivalency Assessments ****	TASC: Language Arts Reading 580 and Language Arts. Writing 560 with 6 Essay	TASC: Mathematics > 560
	HISET: Language Arts Reading 15 and Language Arts Writing 15 with Essay 4	HISET: Mathematics > 15
	GED Reasoning Through Language Arts 165	GED Mathematics > 165
New Row

OCC reserves the right to change these scores and measures at any time.

*

PSAT, SAT and ACT scores are valid for 5 years.

**

NJSLA scores are valid for 18 months beyond graduation date.

***

Students submitting ACT scores must provide a composite English/Writing score. Students who took the ACT without the essay must take the Writeplacer essay, and depending on the scores, may also need to take the Accuplacer Reading and Writing Tests.

****

High School Equivalency Assessment scores are valid for 5 years.

After students are accepted by the college, they can take the College Placement Test. Walk-in testing is available, but appointments are preferred. To schedule an appointment, visit the test registration website at  go.ocean.edu/test. Please see the Testing Center webpage for hours of operation. This test should be taken as soon as possible, since a delay in testing could result in a delay in the scheduling of courses. Also, early testing may enable students to complete developmental courses during the summer terms.

Students are permitted to retest as many times as desired, but must wait at least four (4) days between tests for recommended brush-up and practice. Retesting must be completed before beginning any developmental courses. Placement Test scores are valid for three years. For additional information and practice sites, visit the Testing Center on the OCC website at www.ocean.edu; search for “Placement Test”.

Pre-Calculus/Calculus Placement Test

Students who wish to enroll in , Precalculus I (MATH 191) or higher and who have not met the course prerequisites must take the Pre-Calculus/Calculus Placement Test, (Advanced Algebra and Functions [AAF] Accuplacer Test) or meet the Multiple Measures criteria based on high school transcript review, see College Policy 5161. This placement test assesses current mathematical ability in areas such as algebra, trigonometry, and functions. For additional details on this test, visit the Mathematics Department Office in the Instructional Building, #5, Room 216C.